Summer food programs provide healthy meals, activities
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As the school year winds down, kids will be busy this summer enjoying the outdoors. But before or after they run off their energy, they will have the opportunity to refuel and recharge with healthy meals in Polson, Ronan, Pablo, St. Ignatius and Arlee.
Starting June 11, a free summer food program will be open to kids 18 and under. Breakfast will be served at Cherry Valley Elementary in Polson from 7:30-9:30 a.m., and lunch is offered from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. In Ronan, breakfast is offered from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m., and lunch is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ronan Middle School.
The program in Pablo is located at Salish Kootenai College’s Joe McDonald Fitness Center, and in Mission at the St. Ignatius Tribal Fitness and Community Center on Fridays only. Breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. until Aug. 23.
The Arlee schools are also participating in a summer food service program. Free meals will be provided at the Arlee school lunchroom beginning June 18 and ending Aug. 2, Monday through Thursday, with breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 am and lunch from 11:30 to 1:00 pm.
The summer food service program is a federally assisted meal program that provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to help children in low-income areas get the nutrition they need throughout the summer months when they are out of school. “The program is giving these kids an opportunity to eat a healthy meal,” said tribal health educator Margene Asay, adding that since it is a state-run program, all food must be eaten in the designated facilities and not taken home.
In coordination with the food program in Pablo, there will be an opportunity for children to burn off some calories, as well. SKC will provide physical activities in between breakfast and lunch. Activities will include swimming, kickball, football, basketball, dodgeball and Native games.
“We feed them and give them some activities,” Asay said. “We already have a captive audience.”
On Mondays and Wednesdays, a bus will pick up children in Arlee at the Community Center at 8 a.m. The pickup in St. Ignatius will be at 8:30 a.m., dropping children off at SKC at 9 a.m.
The bus will then return to St. Ignatius around 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. for Arlee.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, kids in Elmo will be picked up at 8:30 a.m. at the Elmo fitness center and dropped off at SKC around 9 a.m. The bus will return to Elmo around 12:30 p.m.
Children must be at least 7 years old to participate in the physical activities.
"We’re not just serving pizza,” Asay said. “It’s good food.”
